KINNAIRD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

COURSE: ENGLISH CORE 2

PRE-MID ASSIGNMENT 1
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: MS. KHADIJA AKRAM
SUBMITTED BY: TAYYABA ISMAIL
HAJIRA ATTIQUE
AIMAN SADAQAT
MINAM FATIMA
ANUM MAQSOOD
ROLL NUMBER: F20BEDU008
F20BEDU013
F20BEDU023
F20BEDU028
F20BEDU024
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 12 february,2021
 STORIES

MY TAILOR

Introduction of author:
Stephen Butler Leacock (1869- 1944) was born in a wealthy family in Southern England in
1869. He was the third of eleven children. The family soon settled in Canada where Studied
at Upper Canada College. He then worked as a teacher, a job he disliked immensely, and
studied at the University of Toronto. He had been a man of great literary flair and talent.
Leacock's literary work reflects humor one way or the other but there has been one thing that
was quite true to life. His literary work shows his matchless wisdom in the use of his humor.
He wrote his autobiography The Boy I Left behind Me which earned immediate fame
posthumously. His famous work in fiction includes Literary Lapses, Sunshine Sketches of a
Little Town, My Discovery of England, and Short Circuits.

Summary:
Stephen Leacock is a famous English comic writer. His humor is light, harmless, free from
bitterness, and mixed with pathos. The essay My Tailor is an excellent example of a
humorous piece of writing. In this essay, the writer describes the behavior and personality of
his tailor. The writer has been associated with the tailor for the last thirty years. Whenever the
writer went to the tailor's shop, he saw his tailor standing at the back of the shop.
His measurement tape was woven round his neck. He also welcomed the writer and other
customers with a smile on his face. He had only two varieties of cloth, tweed and serge. The
tailor always selected the blue serge for the writer and the writer always accepted his
suggestion. He did not buy any cloth without the help of the tailor. Perhaps this is the first
amusement of the essay. The tailor used the word yes without any meaning is also funny. His
behavior of showing cloth to his customers was also funny. He lifted one knee in the air and
another knee handed and dropped the cloth over it. Whenever the writer visited the shop of
tailor for suit, the tailor only measured his chest. He advised the assistant to add half an inch
in the previous measurement of the writer. The writer was fully aware that he was doing it
only to flatter him. One day the writer was surprised and shocked when he came to know of
his tailor's sudden death. The people were talking about the tailor that the problems and
worries of business had finished him. They were also talking about the stock of cloth and his
family members. The writer did not believe in the death of the tailor. He thought that he
should live forever. It was on the death of the tailor that the writer came to know that his wife
had been left in economic problems. The tailor had a daughter but the writer did not know
about it. He also acted as a sideman in the church. The writer did not know these activities of
the tailor because he did not talk about the family life. The writer always thought his tailor an
immortal character.

Answer Questions:
Q1: What has the tailor in ‘My tailor’ to hide?
The writer knew him only through his profession,neglecting his information related to his
personal life interests and his hobbies. The tailor had kept his life hidden from the writer. The
writer knew only about his mastery in his profession, but he didn’t know about the tailor’s
love and interest in music.
Q2: What kind of character Stephen Leacock draws of the tailor in his essay ‘my
tailor’.
The writer always found his tailor as humble, modest and polite in his behaviour with his
customers. He always welcomed his customer with a pleasant smile on his face and he had a
friendly attitude towards the writer. He tried his best to please the writer by recommending
the things according to the writer's moods and likings.
Q3: Discuss the tailor as a humorous as well as a pathetic character.
He never talked about the bill to the writer directly but it was requested by correspondence
only when there were consignments. The tailor always offered the writer to purchase
sharting,collaring and hosiery. After his death, when the writer passed nearby his shop, he felt
him standing at the same position with the same pleasant smile, wearing tape around his neck
in his imagination.
Q4: How honest was the tailor?
was also an honest and dutiful person. He always fulfilled his promise to prepare the dress
and never teased his customer by delaying the delivery of suits.
Q:5 How many decades did Leacock know the tailor?
Leacock had a thirty years association with his tailor , he had not a large number of varieties
for suiting.
Q:6 How tailor please his customers?
Leacock’s tailor was also an expert psychologist, he always tried to flatter and please his
customers.
Q7: Why does Leacock regard the tailor as “immortal”?
It is in this appeared to him a mechanical device, eternally,performing his professional
functions in familiarized modes.
Q8: What shows the tolerance of a tailor?
He can stand on one leg for a fairly long time, seems to be a sort of paralysing condition. He
always recommended tweed or serge in dark blue. According to him, “thought of dark blue
had sprung up as an inspiration”. This shows his tolerance.
Q9: How was tailor died?
The tailor passed away due to the worries about his business. He had humorous aspects in his
professional career.
Q10: What is the moral of this essay?
In this essay, Stephen Leacock presents a finely knit character of his tailor. Through this
character and the circumstances of his life, he tries to give us a message. Today life has
become so busy that human beings have taken the shape of isolated Islands that lie scattered
in the deep and wide ocean of the world completely oblivious of each other.Today nobody
cares for others. Everyone tries to pursue his own motives and objectives. The sense of
friendship, co-operation and sympathy has been finished and human beings take no interest in
anybody else's life. Modern man never comes to know how many people suffer silently and
never share their troubles with anyone like Stephen Leacock's tailor.
Words Meanings:

● Plunge: jumper , dive quickly and energetically.

● woven tape: include fabric that is created by weaving and knitting yarns
together.
● serge: a durable twilled woolen or worsted fabric.
● tweed: a rough surfaced woolen cloth.
 ● guste: enjoyment
● sprung: having moved or jumped quickly
● stumbled: trip
● ecstasy: an overwhelming feeling of happiness
● muses: creative artist

TAKE THE PLUNGE

Author’s Introduction:
Gloria Emerson (1929 - 2004) an author of Take the Plunge is a journalist and American
author and New Year Times War correspondent. She got the National Book Award in
contemporary thought for her book about the Vietnam war. He also got a George Polk
Award. She wrote four books and many articles. In Saigon, she began to write for newspapers
and did freelancing. As a journalist, she worked in many countries in the world.
SUMMARY:
In this essay Take the Plunge, Gloria Emerson gives details about her parachuting experience
in an autobiographical note. She was a slim and physically fragile woman. but wanted to do
something extraordinary. Despite her physical disability, she decided to jump through-plane
by parachuting. Unfortunately, she has a bad back and was so weak that no one can imagine
that she can perform such great work. She describes her strange experience of jumping from
an airplane with graphic details. The motive behind her jumping was to startle other people
about her bravery and extraordinary strength. She has clearly stated her purpose of making a
jump from the parachute. She wanted to surprise her colleagues at the newspaper office. Her
parachuting experience made everyone amazed. To fulfil her desire, she took admission in a
parachute club. The club in charge tried to remove her fear carrying in her heart. She was
very frightened but optimist to do that extraordinary task. She wanted to realize the world that
a physically handicapped can also perform different and unique tasks in life. She felt odd in
the parachute costume. At first, her colleague jumped down from the airplane. Then she
opened her parasol and started to land on others. She landed on the earth very carefully and
landed on earth in a secure position. She was very happy with her expedition to jumping.
Everyone around her was happy and congratulated her on this struggle. Gloria Emerson’s’
essay delineated her feelings and reaction.

Question ANSWERS:
Q1. What were the feelings of the author before the jump?
Ans. Before the jump she was a little nervous as she had watched another man jumping from
the plane confidently but when her turn came she suddenly got frightened and she wanted to
back out. She did not jump and started shouting.

Q2. Do you agree that Gloria Emerson made a good decision to prove his strength?

Ans. Yes, I agree because the decision to take the plunge from the plane was a good one
because it was the only way that proves her strength because jumping from the plane high in
the sky is the matter of life and death. So, this one was actually the boldest act of the author.

Q3. Was the writer excited after the plunge?

Ans. Yes, she was so excited that she wanted to stay pinned in the air and did not want to
come closer to the ground. She hoped that parachuting would be a risky adventure but it
proved to be a lovely and memorable experience for her.

Q4. Describe the construction of the parachute?

Ans. Mr. Jacques Istel, an ex-marine, founded it. He thought parachuting to be a creation and
a passion. He described it as the world's most soul-satisfying sport. He had designed a new
parachute to remove the complexities and to make it easier even for the beginners. It was a
parachute with thirty-two-foot canopy with a large cut out hole that funneled escaping air.
Pulling at the back straps opened old parachutes but Istel’s parachute was operated through
two wooden knobs. This parachute increased the lateral speed but slowed down the rate of
falling down. It also reduced oscillation. It was so safe and easy that the beginners, only with
brief instructions, were put in action with it. Gloria jokingly said that it was to show that any
dope could do it.
Q5. What was the atmosphere in the sky?
Ans. When the plane had gone away with its noise and wind, she was in a domain of sweet
stillness. She saw the universe in a new way. She saw the earth in so many colours and
textures. The sky looked endless. She viewed the earth and sky with a new vision and new
thought. All of this had never been described by anyone before. It was a uniquely personal
experience for her. Being in the sky became a passion and a fever to her. Parachute itself
seemed to her as an easily controllable toy with its wooden knobs to change the direction.
She wanted to remain there forever and stop the earth from coming closer.
Q6. What was the motive of Gloria Emerson while making a jump?
Ans. The objective to perform this task is to surprise and startle her colleagues and to impress
them by her expedition. Her confidence led her to achieve her goal. Once we decide
something and are determined to do it, we can do marvellous things in life. Gloria Emerson
was a woman of outstandingly exceptional qualities who dared to jump into space from an
airplane.
Q7. What sort of girl Gloria Emerson was?
Ans. She was a slim and physically fragile woman. but wanted to do something
extraordinary. Despite her physical disability, she decided to jump through-plane by
parachuting. Unfortunately, she has a bad back and was so weak that no one can imagine that
she can perform such great work
Q8. Why did the writer join the parachute club?
Ans. To fulfil her desire, she took admission in a parachute club. The club in charge tried to
remove her fear carrying in her heart. She was very frightened but optimistic to do that
extraordinary task. She wanted to realize the world that a physically handicapped can also
perform different and unique tasks in life. She felt odd in the parachute costume
Q9. Do the feelings of the author change during the course of her experience or not?
She also was happy and gay. She had emotional feelings about what would happen. She
gladly boarded the plane on the day of jumping. She was not nervous until the plane went up
in the air. But as the plane went up and up, she captured some sort of bad feelings. She
became nervous
after thinking that she had to jump from thousands of feet of height. So, the feelings of the
author did not remain constant rather kept changing throughout the course of her work.
Q10. What is the lesson of this story?
Ans. 'Determination is the key to success'. We can always turn impossible into possible if we
have confidence and strong will power. The writer, Gloria Emerson, has told us about her
personal experience of taking the plunge to prove this message.
 WORDS MEANING

Reckless: heedless of danger or the consequences of the one’s action’s

Parachute: a cloth canopy which fills with air and allows a person or heavy object

attached to it to descend slowly when dropped from an aircraft.

Thumps: hit or strike heavily especially with the fist or a blunt implement.

Massachusetts: a city of America

Straps: a strip leather, cloth or other flexible material use to fasten secure or
carry

Something or to hold on to something.

Manoeuvre: a movement or stories of moves.

Oscillation: movement back and forth in a regular rhythm.

Lean: be in or move into a sloping position.

Eager: strongly wanted to do or have something.

Stab: thrust a knife or other pointed weapon into so as to wound or kill.

 Dribble: fall slowly in drops or a thin stream.

POEMS

The Huntsman
Introduction of poet:
British Born in London. 6 December 1913. Educated at St Paul's School London, and
University College, Oxford (Newgate Prise 1934), and Matthew Arnold Memorial Prize
(1937). Studied medicine, London Hospital, University of London. Specialist in Pathology,
Royal Army Medical Corps 1943-47. He married Alison, daughter of the poet Andrew
Young. 3 daughters. Editor, Equator magazine, Nairobi, Kenya 19450-46. Fellow, Royal
College of Pathologists, Fellow Royal Society of Literature. 1974 OBE. Between 1934 and
1990 published 22 books of verse. Lowbury's devotion to his art for over half a century has
produced a substantial body of work distinguished by technical and imaginative richness.
Black eyes, black heads--Kamba, Kikuyu, Nandi Sprout like grapes, expert at hanging around
And doing nothing, were they warriors once now gone to seed.
Summary:
In this poem, the poet Edward Lowbury has described the tale of a hunter who’s too much
talking brought him to death. Kagwa was a hunter. He used to hunt in the far-off forests with
his spear. He had a bad habit of talking too much. One day, as he was searching for some
hunt in a forest, he came across the skull of a man. Talkative as he was, he talked to the skull.
He asked how it came there. To his amazement, the skull replied in a human voice. The skull
told him that it was too much talking which brought him there. Kagwa rushed to the king to
tell him about this amazing discovery of his. He wanted to impress the King by his meeting
with and talking to a skull. He had also the hope of some prize from the king. He met the king
and told him the whole story. The King couldn't seem to believe. He was not ready to believe
the story until he confirmed it. The king sent his two men to accompany Kagwa to that skull.
He ordered them to bring the skull to the court if it spoke like a human. He also ordered the
guards to kill Kagwa at the spot if the skull did not speak or it did not exist. At last, they
found the skull and Kagwa asked the skull how it came there. The skull had no effect and it
did not speak. Kagwa asked it again and the skull remained silent. The guards of the king
believed that Kagwa was wrong. Now they had to follow the command of the king. They cut
the head of Kagwa there and went away. Now the skull opened his mouth and asked Kagwa
how he came there. Kagwa told the
the skull that was talking brought him there. The poem tells us a strong message. The skull
itself represents the consequences of senseless and useless talking. Kagwa represents the
foolishness of the people who do not understand the hidden meanings of the words. The
poem also illustrates the supreme attitude of the kings and dictators. They do not like
common people's talk.

Answer Questions:
Q1:What is the idea of the poem?
Based on Kenyan folk-lore, this little cautionary narrative with its turn and counter-turn is a
good example, not of black but of sick-humor. Smiles appear to disappear wanly. The poem
is a blend of funny and unfunny aspects of life, the elements of suspense and irony create a
shocking impact.
Q2:What kind of a person was a kagwa?
Kagwa was a very good hunter. He used to hunt in the far-off forests with his spear. He had a
bad habit of talking too much.
Q3:Kagwa asked the skull “How did you come here” Explain?
He was searching for some hunt in a forest, he came across the skull of a man. Talkative as
he was, he talked to the skull. He asked how it came there. To his amazement, the skull
replied in a human voice. The skull told him that it was too much talking which brought him
there.
Q4:Why was kagwa rushed to the king?
Kagwa rushed to the king to tell him about this amazing discovery of his. He wanted to
impress the King by his meeting with and talking to a skull. He had also the hope of some
prize from the king.
Q5:What was the reaction of the king when he listened to the story of kagwa?
The King couldn't seem to believe. He was not ready to believe the story until he confirmed
it. The king sent his two men to accompany Kagwa to that skull. He ordered them to bring the
skull to the court if it spoke like a human. He also ordered the guards to kill Kagwa at the
spot if the skull did not speak or it did not
exist. At last, they found the skull and Kagwa asked the skull how it came there. The skull
had no effect and it did not speak. Kagwa asked it again and the skull remained silent. The
guards of the king believed that Kagwa was wrong. Now they had to follow the command of
the king. They cut the head of Kagwa there and went away.
Q6:What was the moral of the poem?
The poem tells us a strong message. The skull itself represents the consequences of senseless
and useless talking. Kagwa represents the foolishness of the people who do not understand
the hidden meanings of the words. The poem also illustrates the supreme attitude of the kings
and dictators. They do not like common people's talk.

Meanings:
Bush shrub
Spear bulletin
Rode ride
Implored desperately to do something
Kneel to go down or rest on the knees
Tale story
“A poison tree” by (William Blake)
Q1. Write poet Introduction?
Ans: William Blake is an artist poet, a lover of nature, famous and a mystic poet. The poet
writes this poem in an impressive way as the poem “a poison tree” is a ballad and the poet
shows some contrast in it like friends and foe, love and hate, trust and deceit, fruit and
poison, life and death, smile and tears etc. In this poem the poet gives us the idea that how
much anger can be dangerous if it is not ended. On the other hand the poet very beautifully
narrates the whole incident and then leaves the end on the reader
Q2. Write the summary of the poem
Ans: “A poison tree”
A Poison Tree is a short and deceptively simple poem about repressing anger and the
consequences of doing so. The speaker tells of how they fail to communicate their wrath to
their foe and how this continues to grow until it develops into poisonous hatred.
The speaker describes how when they were angry with a friend, they talked to their friend
about the issue which helped them to overcome their anger. However, the speaker was unable
to do the same with an enemy and this leads to developing resentment and an even stronger
degree of hatred. An extended metaphor of a tree growing in the speaker’s garden
demonstrates how the anger continues to grow. In the lines ‘And I watered it in fears’ and
‘And I sunned it with smiles’ the speaker actively cultivates the tree/anger.
Eventually the anger blossoms into a poisoned fruit, the enemy eats the fruit and dies and the
speaker seems to be glad of this. However, there is also a sense that they see the
destructiveness of what has occurred. As the first lines acknowledge, we can easily overcome
our anger if we communicate it properly.
Q3. Write words and meaning
Ans: Wrath = Anger
Foe = enemy
Sunned it with a smile = pretend to be cheerful and bright.
Wiles = Cunning Plans
Deceitful = dishonest, sly
Stole = snuck

Q4. Answers the questions

Q1:What is the meaning of the poet “A poison tree” by William Blake?

A poison tree is a short and deceptively simple poem about repressing anger and the
consequences of doing. So, the speaker tells of how they fail to communicate their
wrath to their foe and how this continues to grow until it develops into poisonous
hatred.

Q2:What is the extended metaphor of the poem?

The extended metaphor is comparing anger to a plant. The process of cultivating

one’s emotions is compared to cultivating a plant. The emotions are followed through
an entire growth cycle, until they blossom into death.

Q3:In stanza 1, the speaker makes a contrast between two occasions when he got angry
with someone. What is the contrast?

The speaker brings out the contrast between getting angry with a friend and being
angry with an enemy. When angry with his friend, he tells his friend about it and the
 anger ends there. But when angry with his enemy, he does not tell him about it, and
therefore, it grows.

Q4:What words in stanza 2 show that the speaker is now talking of his anger as if it
were a seed or a small plant? What served as water for the plant? What served as
sunlight?

The words ‘watered’ and ‘sunned’ indicate that the speaker treats the anger like a
seed. His tears were the water and his false smiles and deceitful wiles served as
sunlight.

The plant grew both from the speaker’s inner feelings and from his outward behavior.
Q5: What caused the inner feelings and the outward behavior?

The plant grew because of the bitterness and fear inside, and the falsehood and deceit
in the speaker’s outward behavior.